Update 5 - Universalization, 21 Sept. 2006

MAIN POINTS OF DISCUSSION

Progress in universalization since the 6MSP. Plans by States Parties including the President, Australia, as well as NGOs for increasing universalization efforts and further engagement of Non-State Armed Groups.

With reference to work with NSAGs, Turkey proposed adding a paragraph to the Geneva progress report to the effect that actions taken to implement the treaty should not "serve the purposes of terrorist organizations", generating a lengthy debate.

ICBL PRESENTATIONS

Following presentations by States Parties, ICBL Advocacy Director made an intervention expressing the ICBL's views on the status of the universalization process and providing an update on activities carried out in the past year as well as plans for the future.

Geneva Call provided an updated on activities carried out to engage Non-State Armed Groups in the mine ban.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR ICBL

• Australia presented an action plan for universalization with a special focus on the Asia-Pacific region and announced that the Minister in charge of mine action is currently in Poland for meetings related to the country's ratification.
• Japan announced it had carried out 19 demarches prior to the meeting, which had yielded some positive responses.
• Several States Parties expressed support for universalization efforts
• Signatory Indonesia announced that the ratification bill was submitted to Parliament
• States not Parties Georgia, Mongolia, Palau gave updates on their progress towards universalization. Palau said that obstacles to accession had been overcome.

CONCERNS FOR ICBL

• With the exception of Australia and Canada, States Parties expressing support for universalization did not provide specific plans or priorities.
• Palau did not provide a timeframe for accession.
• Much of the session was taken over by a discussion on the Turkish proposal of including language on "terrorist" groups in the Geneva Progress Report, which distracted attention from the main discussion points.
• Egypt, a State not Party, expressed its disappointment that the Convention does not differ between what it considers "legitimate" use of mines for defense purposes and illegal use. Also, it stated that the Convention did not live up to its expectations in regards to the attention it has received as a mine-affected country.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"You have to distinguish between mine use made by terrorists and 'legal' mine use", Representative of Tunisia, a State Party, 21 September 2006.

MORE INFORMATION

ICBL Statement - Universalization (Delivered by Simona Beltrami, ICBL Advocacy Director)

ICBL Statement - Non-State Armed Groups (Delivered by Elisabeth Reusse-Decrey, President, Geneva Call)

List of States Parties

List of States not Parties